Bene Gesserit- A High, Happy, Perverse, and Cynical Cry of Joy LP
This one’s an old favorite of mine. Today’s post features an experimental/minimal band from Belgium named Bene Gesserit and their first record A High, Happy, Perverse, and Cynical Cry of Joy, released in 1984.
Taking their name from a religious race of humans from Frank Herbert’s Dune series, Bene Gesserit was formed in 1981 by Alain Neffe, a pioneer in the Belgian industrial scene. Joined by Nadine Bal, the pair would record a series of live cassettes and three records under psuedonyms (B. Ghoula and Benedict G., respectively). Their sound combined both the experimental edge of industrial music and the slick synthesized sound of minimal synth, a curious and innovative hybrid that earned the band a decent following and cult status to this day.
Though the band split after releasing their third record, Alain would remain active in such outfits as Human Flesh, Cortex, I Scream, and Pseudo-Code. You can nab another one of their records from Mutant Sounds by clicking here. Otherwise, here’s the info for Bene Gesserit’s first release:
Bene Gesserit- A High, Happy, Perverse, and Cynical Cry of Joy LP
1. She Is Walking
2. Japanese Song
3. Enfants Des Rues
4. Pravda
5. Nuit Et Chuchotements
6. Strange Strangers (In The Night)
7. Clear Blue Smile
8. Walt’s Waltz
9. Tonight
10. Désirs-Délires
11. Kitchen Music (For Kitchen People)
12. Existentialisme
13. No Rule For A Dream : Bali
14. Tourdorizonmuzikal (C’est Ça)
15. La Brabançonne (Belgian National Anthem)
*DOWNLOAD LINK REMOVED* Official CD reissue coming March 2012 via EE Tapes.
The band has both an official site and a myspace page, but both are entirely in French. For anyone fluent or otherwise curious:
On a previous note, anyone who downloaded Absolute Body Control’s Numbers should check back again, for I originally only had the first side of the cassette uploaded. The new link should now consist of both tape sides…
April 7, 2008 at 10:06 pm
been searchin’ for this one… thanks!
April 8, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Cheers, Frankie. Looks like I’m in for some excellent tunes at work tonight.
On an unrelated note, what do you think of the band, Frustration? I only listened to them for the first time a few days ago, and I like their album, “Relax”, very much.
April 14, 2008 at 10:02 am
I don’t know. I am into some different stuff, but I just could never digg this band much.I guess to each their own.
April 16, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Chappy, haven’t heard Frustration, but i’ll keep my ears peeled!
April 22, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I got to hear frustration. I like ’em. They are kinda punky. I heard them on a compilation with Guerre Froide and Derniere Volonte.
Tymex
April 13, 2012 at 6:08 pm
[…] of many projects featuring contributions from experimental mastermind Alain Neffe, also active in Bene Gesserit, Human Flesh, and Pseudo Code. Vocalist Nadine Bal also worked with Neffe in Bene Gesserit, who […]